Which to use
“tension” is a noun and “tensions” is a verb - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #4,987
- “tension” frequency rank
- #9,969
- “tensions” frequency rank
- 14956
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | tension | tensions |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The condition of being held in a state between two or more forces, which are acting in opposition to each other. | third-person singular simple present indicative of tension |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set tension and tensions apart are highlighted. They share 7 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
Our dataset has no pronunciation recorded for both members, so the reliable separator here is grammatical: tension is anoun and tensionsaverb. On the page they differ by 1 extra letter(s) - “tension” sits inside “tensions”. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 14956, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
tension is recorded at frequency rank #4,987, classified as anoun, pronounced /ˈtɛnʃən/. tensions is at rank #9,969, tagged as averb.
Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.
With a confusion score of 14956, this pair ranks #466,926 of 530,003 scored English confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Orthographic DNA of tension vs tensions
Shared letters: einost. Private to "tension": -. Private to "tensions": -.
"tension" · 7 letters · shape CVCCVVC · "tensions" · 8 letters · shape CVCCVVCC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "tension" and "tensions" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "tension" or "tensions"?
Remembering tension vs tensions
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Check the role first: if you need a noun, it's “tension”; for a verb, it's “tensions”.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “tension” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable